Fee income

Though the fees are controversial, there may not be an easy way for the industry to abandon them.

Advisors who aren’t putting in the work to attract the next generation are taking a risk.

Asset managers are seeking alternatives to standard mutual fund products.

Clients are paying about half as much to own funds as they were 20 years ago.

The expanded line up of index funds demonstrates one way the brokerage industry is grappling with an ongoing race to offer products at the lowest price.

CEO Walt Bettinger says advisors tell him they aren’t worried about the new pricing model.

CEO Ronald O’Hanley says the poor performance reflects both the industry’s “continued challenging conditions,” as well as “lower client activity.”

Startup or low-AUM firms have options outside of the big four.

The regulator is going back to some of the firms that voluntarily settled, requesting information on revenue sharing.

Planners appear to be breaking away from the AUM fee structure.

"We said, 'Even though we are drinking water in the bar, there are too many drunks, so let's not go into the bar.'"

The need for scale is forcing a reassessment of M&A strategy.

Knowing how to price your services may seem like a dark art, but a few simple calculations yield revealing answers.

Rising technology costs and increased fee pressure are working against the industry, research shows.

Only about 5% still charge them, according to a Financial Planning study.

"The numbers are all in a positive direction" as advisers shrug off threats to growth.

From setting fees to compliance scares, veteran planners advise new RIAs on what to consider when launching a firm.